Pure SYTYCD got the chance to be able to attend the auditions for a new show on the Ovation TV channel called Chance to Dance. The show is produced by SYTYCD’s own Nigel Lythgoe and also includes Allison Holker.

A Chance to Dance follows Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, two former London Royal Ballet dancers and creators of the renowned BalletBoyz Dance Company, as they search the United States for undiscovered dance talent to form this new dance company. And there isn’t one winner… A Company of Dancers will get A CHANCE TO DANCE.

Pure SYTYCD sent Natalie to cover the Salt Lake City Chance to Dance auditions. Here’s her writeup of the experience along with a number of great pictures from the auditions and a short video outside while the dancers wait for their “Chance to Dance.”

Wake up early. Put your favorite dance clothes on. Look at yourself one last time in the mirror and tell yourself you can do it. Drive out in the middle of nowhere. Wait in line for 2 hours with a clip board waiting to check in. Wait in line for another two hours, stretching and free styling, for the people who decide if you’ll get the chance to dance.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the auditions for a new TV show called ‘A Chance to Dance-An exciting new dance competition series from father-son producing team Nigel & Simon Lythgoe.’ While shows like ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and ‘Dancing With The Stars’ pick one winner, ‘A Chance To Dance’ will find the best of 24 and narrow them down to 8, that will perform as a company.

The judges of this new show are Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, or “The BalletBoyz” as they have become known. They will also be joined by, SYTYCD contestant and all-star, Allison Holker, who I also had the chance to meet at the auditions in Salt Lake City, Utah.
I asked them if they will look more for someone who fits into the group versus a star like they look for in SYTYCD? They responded with the easy, both. They will be looking for someone so stands out in the initial stages of auditions and as things progress closer to the final 8 they will look for those that work well in a group. Another difference is that America will not be sharing their opinion by casting a vote. “We are not a democracy,” was there response to my inquiry.

The judges mentioned that all styles of dance will be a part of the show, but I only witnessed about 30 seconds of auditions and those seconds were ballet and contemporary, being led by Allison Holker. Unlike our other favorite dance show, the contestants did not try out by preparing a solo to perform for the judges. They were all taught choreographed routines practiced in typical company class room fashion.

The different audition style rattled some, bringing them to simply walk out of the auditions in the middle, and leave. Others seemed to really be in their element, keeping up with Allison as she taught the routines quickly, with her telling the rest to keep up. The BalletBoyz sat in front of all the dancers talking with show producers, looking up occasionally to see how things were getting along.

Before they let the dancers in to start the auditions, Allison was seen dancing around the studio going over the upcoming choreography in her jeans and ankle boots, drinking her Starbucks, while The BalletBoyz worked with the production team and camera men to get the camera angles right for filming.
Witnessing a panicked, overbearing crew run around like chickens with their heads cut off, all trying not to be the one to mess up and get in trouble, was certainly a new experience. Everything always looks so simple when you see it on TV. But there is a lot more to it than we see in the final cut.

Keep an eye out for “A Chance to Dance”, set to premiere on August 17, on Ovation. You’re guaranteed to see a lot of amazing dancers, looking for their chance to dance.

Here are some of the other shots from the Chance to Dance auditions in Salt Lake City.

Now for a video showing some of the dancers outside waiting to audition for Chance to Dance: